Faurecia does not take development of bio-based materials lightly. For a quarter century, Faurecia has been innovating in lightweight materials, processes and structural applications that incorporate a variety of natural materials, including wood, flax and hemp, for extensive use in current and future vehicles.

During its 25-year history in developing bio materials, Faurecia has brought to market sustainable & weight-saving breakthrough solutions for global carmakers, pushing forward major advances in lightweight and oil-free solutions that the auto industry is craving for.

Faurecia’s research in biomaterials has focused on flax, industrial hemp, straw, as well as an Asian spruce, for integration in interior elements such as instrument or door panels.

For instance, NafiLEAN's hemp base was grown by Automotive Performance Materials (APM), a joint venture between Faurecia and a major French agricultural cooperative, Interval. APM selects and plants the seeds that mature into hemp, which it harvests and delivers to Faurecia in short fibers with the appropriate characteristics for inclusion in injection-molded materials.

Through the years, Faurecia has mastered bio-materials full value chain as well as the entire process of developing and applying these materials, from planting and harvesting to manufacturing and systems validation, up to mass production

ADVANTAGES

By developing Bio-material content, Faurecia pushes forward the issues of weight saving, compared to the market standards, but also environmental impact assessment, based on the life cycle of the vehicle.

2005, Natural Fiber polypropylene (NFPP)

Flax-based

50% of bio content

30% lighter than standard materials

2013, NafiLean

Hemp-based

20% of bio content

20 to 25% lighter than standard materials

2014, Biomat

Hemp/resin-based

65% of bio content

9% lighter than standard materials

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Faurecia does not take development of bio-based materials lightly. For a quarter century, Faurecia has been innovating in lightweight materials, processes and structural applications that incorporate a variety of natural materials, including wood, flax and hemp, for extensive use in current and future vehicles.

During its 25-year history in developing bio materials, Faurecia has brought to market sustainable & weight-saving breakthrough solutions for global carmakers, pushing forward major advances in lightweight and oil-free solutions that the auto industry is craving for.

Faurecia’s research in biomaterials has focused on flax, industrial hemp, straw, as well as an Asian spruce, for integration in interior elements such as instrument or door panels.

For instance, NafiLEAN's hemp base was grown by Automotive Performance Materials (APM), a joint venture between Faurecia and a major French agricultural cooperative, Interval. APM selects and plants the seeds that mature into hemp, which it harvests and delivers to Faurecia in short fibers with the appropriate characteristics for inclusion in injection-molded materials.

Through the years, Faurecia has mastered bio-materials full value chain as well as the entire process of developing and applying these materials, from planting and harvesting to manufacturing and systems validation, up to mass production

ADVANTAGES

By developing Bio-material content, Faurecia pushes forward the issues of weight saving, compared to the market standards, but also environmental impact assessment, based on the life cycle of the vehicle.

Faurecia’s NAFILean (natural fiber for injection) is the automotive interior market’s only injected material with natural fibers. NAFILean integrates a natural, hemp-based fiber with polypropylene and allows for complex shapes and architectures along with weight reduction.

It has been developed to introduce green content into high-performance material for instrument panels, door panels and center consoles.

NAFILean can be used in traditional injection machines and stands as a unique market solution from Faurecia.

Advantages

This mixture produces injected parts with a substantial 20 to 25 percent weight savings in comparison with standard plastics and contributes to make the car more fuel efficient. It also reduces the overall environmental impact by 20 to 25 percent through the components’ lifecycle.

The fiber portion of the mixture being a renewable material, the industry has validated NAFILean’s end-of-life recyclability via separation of the fiber from the polypropylene. Additionally, NAFILean has demonstrated a 40% improvement in fit and finish.

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Faurecia’s NAFILean (natural fiber for injection) is the automotive interior market’s only injected material with natural fibers. NAFILean integrates a natural, hemp-based fiber with polypropylene and allows for complex shapes and architectures along with weight reduction.

It has been developed to introduce green content into high-performance material for instrument panels, door panels and center consoles.

NAFILean can be used in traditional injection machines and stands as a unique market solution from Faurecia.

Advantages

This mixture produces injected parts with a substantial 20 to 25 percent weight savings in comparison with standard plastics and contributes to make the car more fuel efficient. It also reduces the overall environmental impact by 20 to 25 percent through the components’ lifecycle.

The fiber portion of the mixture being a renewable material, the industry has validated NAFILean’s end-of-life recyclability via separation of the fiber from the polypropylene. Additionally, NAFILean has demonstrated a 40% improvement in fit and finish.

Did you know?30% of the energy content in fuel is dissipated in exhaust heat.

Faurecia designed the Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) to capture up to 40% of this lost energy while speeding up heating of both the engine and the passenger compartment.
The latest version of the EHRS is more compact and weighs 2 kgs less than its previous versions, providing weight savings of 60%.

Advantages

The EHRS plays an important role in improving vehicle energy efficiency.

It significantly reduces each vehicle’s fuel consumption – by up to 7% for hybrid engines. Moreover, the EHRS reduces CO2 emissions by 3 g/km.

In addition, the latest-generation EHRS is more compact and, consequently, lighter (by 2 kg), so it reduces vehicle weight – an added factor in making vehicles more fuel-efficient.

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Did you know?30% of the energy content in fuel is dissipated in exhaust heat.

Faurecia designed the Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) to capture up to 40% of this lost energy while speeding up heating of both the engine and the passenger compartment.
The latest version of the EHRS is more compact and weighs 2 kgs less than its previous versions, providing weight savings of 60%.

Advantages

The EHRS plays an important role in improving vehicle energy efficiency.

It significantly reduces each vehicle’s fuel consumption – by up to 7% for hybrid engines. Moreover, the EHRS reduces CO2 emissions by 3 g/km.

In addition, the latest-generation EHRS is more compact and, consequently, lighter (by 2 kg), so it reduces vehicle weight – an added factor in making vehicles more fuel-efficient.

Today’s surfaces of current screens essentially means that occupants are seeing images on only a two-dimensional plane. Revealed at Shanghai Auto 2015 Faurecia is introducing the first human-machine interface that integrates the fusion of a decorative layer with a display.

Deco Display merges plastics and electronics into smart “plastronics” components that are incorporated into what Faurecia calls “the first inch” of the HMI surface.

The combination of advanced electronics and plastic will move the touch surface from the glass screen to the overlying decoration, allowing for a multi-dimensional shape with images and icons on the top of the overlay surface.

The curved thermoplastic overlay of Deco Display can be painted or covered with a decorative anti-glare or anti-reflection film to significantly improve the optical performance of the screen while making the display more decorative.

Touch control will likely be the next step for Deco Display. While automakers currently favor switches and buttons for controls, tactile control will extend HMI technology to a completely switchless center stack that relies on touch and haptic feedback that operate different functions within the vehicle.

Deco Display with touch control will be available by 2020, for any type of vehicle, from entry level to midmarket to premium class.

Advantages

With Deco Display, Faurecia offers a new way of interacting with vehicles through seamless 3D fusion of decorative parts with displays and controls, especially when the screen is off.

The technology also provides designers with greater freedom to bend the display’s shape while optimizing optical performance, by incorporating switchless, buttonless interaction with control functions on the center stack, console and instrument panel.

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Today’s surfaces of current screens essentially means that occupants are seeing images on only a two-dimensional plane. Revealed at Shanghai Auto 2015 Faurecia is introducing the first human-machine interface that integrates the fusion of a decorative layer with a display.

Deco Display merges plastics and electronics into smart “plastronics” components that are incorporated into what Faurecia calls “the first inch” of the HMI surface.

The combination of advanced electronics and plastic will move the touch surface from the glass screen to the overlying decoration, allowing for a multi-dimensional shape with images and icons on the top of the overlay surface.

The curved thermoplastic overlay of Deco Display can be painted or covered with a decorative anti-glare or anti-reflection film to significantly improve the optical performance of the screen while making the display more decorative.

Touch control will likely be the next step for Deco Display. While automakers currently favor switches and buttons for controls, tactile control will extend HMI technology to a completely switchless center stack that relies on touch and haptic feedback that operate different functions within the vehicle.

Deco Display with touch control will be available by 2020, for any type of vehicle, from entry level to midmarket to premium class.

Advantages

With Deco Display, Faurecia offers a new way of interacting with vehicles through seamless 3D fusion of decorative parts with displays and controls, especially when the screen is off.

The technology also provides designers with greater freedom to bend the display’s shape while optimizing optical performance, by incorporating switchless, buttonless interaction with control functions on the center stack, console and instrument panel.

While vehicle performance is important, the design and ergonomics of the passenger compartment are also key factors in driving enjoyment.

Faurecia has mastered a wide range of technology for customizing vehicle interiors to create a unique space. These techniques can be used to produce an extensive array of finishes in wood and aluminum – materials that are prized for the luxury character they lend to the vehicle cabin.

Faurecia currently offers a variety of aluminum finishes for interior decor elements such as the instrument panel, front and rear door panels and center console.

Wood is in high demand in the automobile industry, especially for use in high-end vehicles, but its rigidity make it more difficult to work with. Faurecia has successfully overcome this problem with its innovative Ligneos technology, an innovative method of processing large sheets of wood in three dimensions in order to make them lighter and more flexible.

Ligneos is also ideal for larger components such as instrument panels, door panels and seat backs. The resulting wood is more flexible and adjusts to the shape of the components, giving wood panels a unique appearance and a very special feel.

Advantages

Thanks to the latest materials for interior decor, notably wood and aluminum, automakers can offer an increasingly wide and refined selection of options designed to impress even the most demanding car owners when it comes to interior comfort and design.

The varied options available for materials used on everything from door panels to the center console and instrument panel play a major role in customizing and differentiating vehicle interiors.

[summary] =>
[format] => full_html
[safe_value] =>

While vehicle performance is important, the design and ergonomics of the passenger compartment are also key factors in driving enjoyment.

Faurecia has mastered a wide range of technology for customizing vehicle interiors to create a unique space. These techniques can be used to produce an extensive array of finishes in wood and aluminum – materials that are prized for the luxury character they lend to the vehicle cabin.

Faurecia currently offers a variety of aluminum finishes for interior decor elements such as the instrument panel, front and rear door panels and center console.

Wood is in high demand in the automobile industry, especially for use in high-end vehicles, but its rigidity make it more difficult to work with. Faurecia has successfully overcome this problem with its innovative Ligneos technology, an innovative method of processing large sheets of wood in three dimensions in order to make them lighter and more flexible.

Ligneos is also ideal for larger components such as instrument panels, door panels and seat backs. The resulting wood is more flexible and adjusts to the shape of the components, giving wood panels a unique appearance and a very special feel.

Advantages

Thanks to the latest materials for interior decor, notably wood and aluminum, automakers can offer an increasingly wide and refined selection of options designed to impress even the most demanding car owners when it comes to interior comfort and design.

The varied options available for materials used on everything from door panels to the center console and instrument panel play a major role in customizing and differentiating vehicle interiors.